HOUSTON - Thirteen people are facing federal charges in an investigation into an alleged scheme to transport stolen vehicles from across the United States into Mexico for use by criminal organizations, federal officials announced Monday.

The investigation, called Operation Southbound Takedown, began in spring 2026 after federal agents and prosecutors identified a pattern of privately owned and rental vehicles allegedly being stolen, driven to El Paso and transported across the border to individuals associated with Mexican cartels.


Investigators have recovered 29 vehicles valued at approximately $1.137 million as part of the investigation, according to federal officials.

Authorities allege the vehicles were used to support the day-to-day operations of criminal organizations in Mexico, including groups designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. government.

 These are not isolated property crimes,  said Ryan G. McRae, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in El Paso.  The stolen vehicles related to Operation Southbound Takedown demonstrate an alarming pattern and are used to support the day-to-day operations of dangerous criminal organizations. 

Who are the 13 defendants?

Federal officials said the defendants were indicted and arrested between March and Oct. 19, with the charges involving an alleged vehicle-theft and transportation network operating across the U.S. and Mexico.

One defendant, U.S. citizen Kimberly Aguilar, was indicted March 25 and is in state custody. U.S. citizen Marty Gerardo Jr., indicted July 22, is also in state custody.

Eleven additional defendants were federally indicted and arrested between July 22 and Oct. 19.

The nine U.S. citizens among those 11 are:

David Monarrez

Cesar David Diaz

Sinuhe Baltizar Lopez

Christopher Rene Reyes

Angel Antonio Flores

Aaron Fernando Luna-Evans

Amy Foote

James Dewey Garrett

Hilario Abraham Morales

The two Mexican citizens charged are Pablo Frias, who holds a Legal Permanent Resident Card, and Pilar Bernabeth Mendez Rivas, who holds a Border Crossing Card.

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